Vladimir Rusanov (icebreaker)

Vladimir Rusanov (Владимир Русанов) was a Soviet icebreaker in service from 1964 until 1988. It was one of twelve Project 97A icebreakers built by Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad in 1961–1971.

Description


In the mid-1950s, the Soviet Union began developing a new diesel-electric icebreaker design based on the 1942-built steam-powered icebreaker Eisbär to meet the needs of both civilian and naval operators. Built in various configurations until the early 1980s, the Project 97 icebreakers and their derivatives became the largest and longest-running class of icebreakers and icebreaking vessels built in the world. Of the 32 ships built in total, the unarmed civilian variant Project 97A was the most numerous with twelve icebreakers built in 1961–1971.

Project 97A icebreakers were 67.7 m long overall and had a beam of 18 m. Fully laden, the vessels drew 5.35 m of water and had a displacement of 2935 t. Their three 1800 hp 10-cylinder 13D100 two-stroke opposed-piston diesel engines were coupled to generators that powered electric propulsion motors driving two propellers in the stern and a third one in the bow. Project 97A icebreakers were capable of breaking 70 to 75 cm thick snow-covered ice at very slow but continuous speed.

History
The seventh of twelve Project 97A icebreakers was laid down at Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad on 30 March 1964, launched on 25 July 1964, and delivered to the Black Sea Shipping Company on 28 December 1964. Initially named simply Ledokol-7 (Ледокол-7), Russian for "icebreaker", it was renamed Vladimir Rusanov in 1966 after the 19th and early 20th century Russian explorer. The icebreaker was stationed in Odessa and operated in the Black Sea.

Vladimir Rusanov was taken out of service in May 1988 and, after its name was shortened to Vlad, sold to Turkey for scrapping.